The leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt has alleged that the Congress-led State Government was completely failed to initiate prompt rescue operations in the disaster-hit areas of Uttarakhand.
He completely ruled out tall claims made by the State Government that all stranded pilgrims from different natural disaster-hit areas were rescued. While addressing the mediapersons in a Press conference held at Vidhan Sabha in Dehradun on Thursday, Bhatt claimed that the death and missing toll could have been reduced manifold, if the State Government had issued directives for carrying rescue operations immediately after the disaster struck to Uttarakhand.
“The situation in the remotely situated disaster-hit areas of the State which includes Ghatchatti, Pinola, Govindghat, Pandukeshwar, Vinayakchatti, lambagad, Aruni, Paturi, Jaibagad, Kunni, Khero, Bonakulli etc is worst as I had travelled on foot from Badrinath to Joshimath,” he said, adding that the Government has completely failed to do apposite rescue operations in the disaster-hit areas of Uttarakhand. Bhatt also demanded from the Congress-led State Government to waive off 100 per cent loans of those villagers who faced the brunt of natural calamities. He also demanded from the State Government to resign as the rescue and relief works were not carried promptly and efficiently by the State Government, except rescue work by Indian defence forces.
“The State Government is full of negative thoughts as the State Government in its freshly issued advisory asked the countrymen not to visit Uttarakhand,” he said, adding that the State Government should make proper arrangements at Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Nainital and other tourist destinations to attract the flow of tourists across the country.
According to him, around 600 villages in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pauri, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh districts are facing the food grains crunch besides, 13 villages in Chamoli district is completely disconnected from the national highway.
Bhatt also lamented that the condition of national highway along the Char Dham Yatra route is worst as the State Government delayed in sanctioning the funds to BRO for carrying repairing and construction of roads in the higher parts of the State.
He also demanded from the State Government to draft the plans for the construction of alternate route for the Char Dham.